Machine for cutting logs into sections



EIC. AVINGER ETAL MACHINE FOR CUTTING LOGS INTO SECTIONS Oct. 2, 1951 4Sheet s-Sheet 1' 7 Filed June 4; 1948 'INVENTOR. C. IQVl/VGER 1951 E. c.AVINGER ET AL 2,569,878

MACHINE FOR CUTTING LOGS INTO SECTIONS Filed June 4, 1948 4 SheetsSheetI5 IN V EN TOR.

f. C HV/A/GEA BY 7. I Mam /1y 1951 E. c. AVINGER ET AL 2,569,378

MACHINE FOR CUTTING LOGS INTO SECTIONS Filed June 4, 1948 4 sheets-sheet4' HWM Patented Oct. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES MACHINE FORZ CUTTINGZIZUGSTINS-HI SECTIONS" Ernest G; Avingen'and Theodore. 'nzMurplty, Wandm.Sofia Application J mm 4, 1948",Seri'all N6. 31?,168'

( (lb-143M51 'l Glaziml. 1.

Ourinvention relatest'o improvements ingang sawmachines of the type usedto cut logs for making'pulpwood or the like.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a gang saw machineincluding a plurality of endless conveyor elements for moving lossthrough the saws, wherein novel clutchmean'sare provided' to permit theindividual endlessconveyor elementsto adjust-themselves; to compensatefor crookedness in" the log beihgcut.

damage the saws'ifsuch sections. become turnedi or cooked while betweenthe saws;

A further object is to provide a'machineor the above" mentioned typewhich is adapted toadvance a long uncut" log into position for beingpassed through the gang. saws, cuttingth'e long;

log: to'the proper length before it is placed upon the endless conveyorelements; passing the log thus cutthrough thegang' saws Where'i't is cutintosections for making pulpwood and the like,

and depositing the out logsections' onto asuit able conveyor from whichthey are discharged into avehicle, orthelike;

A still further'object-isto provide a gang saw machine wherein-the mainelements" of themachine are driven'froma single source of power, I

Figure l is a plan view of thegang saw machine embodying our invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same as viewed on line 2-4 of Figure1,

Figure 3 isa transverse 'vertica'l' section taken on line 3-3 of Figure1,

Figure 4 is a similar section showingalog conveyed through the gang sawsand the clutch actuating levers raised bythe logto clutch settingpositions,

Figure 5' is an enlarged -tragmentary longitudel mar verticalsectibnthrough oneset of clutches and associ'atcd elements:

Figure-6 a transverse vcrtlcal secti'on "taken Figure-'Fisan enlargedfragmentary-perspective'view ofa clutch setting crank,

Figure- 8 is a. similar viewof 'wco alctl'ing-ci'fitch setting-"sleeve",

Figure 9*-i's a central section through the hnb of one of" theouter'saws'ofthe gang saw machine,

Figure 1 0 is a similar section through "the "hub of the central-saw ofthe machine;

Figure H-i's a perspective view; partly-diagrammatic: ofclutciractirating levers, andassociated linkagemechamsm;

Figure I2 is" arrenlarged rragmentary'detail view showingimeansforconnecting'a clutch settingsleeve to the" frame of'the' machine;

Figure I3- is a' vertical" section taken on line Figure r 2" is -ra:diagrammaticplan vi'ewof 'a'log engaged" "-by dogscarriedbyconveyor"elerrrerltsi nitric-drawings,- wherefortfie" purposeoiillustratfon shownf a preferred embodiment of our invention; the numeral20 designatesa: section of narrowgauge' trackerranged adjacent to thefront longittzd'inalsidifl" ofarra'me or had?! and extending MtthEWEdlnbOth directions. Carriages 22 andit are' amngedupon'the: track20*, andere adapted toconvey'a longil'o-g ad1- ja'centtothe'fiontside-of the bed."

Thehed. H is horizontal, amf'suitablysupported above thegronnd"; so thatitsupper surface is"substantially the upper surraoes of carnageszt and23? Figure 3. Atitsfrontside'm' the bed 2| has mounted .upon it alongitudinal chock" 25,- extending .i'or tlieentire length" or" theUeCf'aITdififiSHTWfiH the" top surfaces: of? the carri'ages flandif.

A suitable primemoveror motor It is arrangedtnearrone end of'tlie bedi2i; andf'near the transverse:centeriofthe same... and the drive shaft"26" ofthe' motor extends longitudinally of the" 21"; as shown. Arrangedsubstantially, at the transverse center oftlie b'ed2l'," andspaced abovethe hears a longitudinally extending gang saw shaft??? This shaft" ZT'isfflllrna'l'e'diwfi'xed beazings'whiclr are" rigidly mountedupontranswisely-extendingframe members or" panels 2 I, in'tum ri'gidlymaunted uponthe becl 2F: The shafti I extendsfor substantially theentirelength of the bed 21, and oneendef fiheshaft extentlsadiaeen t tethemetorIIt-Eieure m Atits endfl'ad iacient toithezrmotonthez-sliaztl2T1: is ioperati-velo' conniected thmouglt sintab'leegeamnz 2 8* withinthe outwardly of saws 36 and 32.

drive shaft 26, as shown. Mounted upon the saw shaft 21 at spacedintervals, for rotation with such shaft, are three vertically disposedcircular saws 30, 3| and 32. The center saw 3| is arranged substantiallyat the longitudinal center of bed 2|, while the outer saws 30 and 32 arearranged substantially midway between the center saw 13 l' andithe outerends of the-bed. We have shown threecir'cular sawsfor the'fmachine, butadditional saws may be provided if desired. The circular saws 30, 3| and32 are keyed to the shaft 21 for rotation therewith, andrneans areprovided to permit the saws to shiftslightly axially upon the shaft 21.The center saw 3| may shift axially in both directionsv upon the shaft21. 33 is rigidly mounted upon shaft 21,. and held against axial androtary motion with'res'pect to" the shaft. The sleeve 33 is providedwith an elonj j gated keyway 34 slidably receiving a key 35 con-,necting-the hub 36,-of saw 3| torthe sleeve for rotation therewith. Thesaw 3| is bolted to an .annular flange 31- of hub 36, Figure 10. The key35 is rigidly secured to hub 36,but-is.slidablelon- ,gitudinally in thekeyway 34. The sleeve 33 has tion only, away from the center saw 3|.Figure 9 shows the construction whereby theouter saw 32 is shiftableaxially upon the shaft 21. A sleeve 4| is rigidly secured-to .shaft 21and provided with a longitudinal keyway 42. A hub 43 of saw 32 carries akey 44', rigidlysecured to it, and slidable longitudinally in the keyway42. The saw 32 is'bolted toan annular flange 45 of the hub 43.

The sleeve 4 i ,ha'san annular flange or. shoulder .46 at its inner end,and .a detachable annular ring or. shoulder 41-at its outer end'which isscrew threaded upon the sleeve. A compression spring 48 is mounted.uponthesleeve 4| between [the outer endgofhub 43 and. shoulder 41. Thisspring normally linaintains the hub 43 in engagement withshoulder.46,.but permits the saw 32 to be shifted axially outwardly. Theopposite outer saw 30 is mounted upon shaft 21in exactly the same manneras the saw 32, except that itssleeve 4|, and associated elements, arearranged-so .that' it may shift axially in .the opposite direction uponthe shaft. H

Arranged rearwardly of saw. shaft 21 and spaced above the same, andextending longitudinally of bed 2| for substantially the entire lengthof the bed, and journaled in fixejd' bearings which are rigidly mountedupon the transverse panels 2|, is a horizontal conveyor'chain shaft 49.One

end of this shaft 49 extends adjacent to motor 26, rasshown. Suitablegearing 5| operatively connects the shaft 49 with shaft 21; 5|designates 'a' reversing speedreducer. Mounted 'upon conveyor chainshaft 49 at spaced intervals are four sets of conveyor chain clutches52, Figures 1 and 5. The two inner sets of clutches 52 are arrangedbetween the center saw 3| and outer-saws 36 and 32, and the two outersets 52 are disposed axially E h Se f clutches 52, Figure 5, comprises apair of opposed axially space'di clutch discs 53, including axiallyoutwardly extending hubs 54, rigidly keyed to hubs 51, and outer fiatclutch faces 58 to engage the friction linings 55. The sprocket wheels56 shaft 49.

pin 59, rigidly secured in an opening formed in are freely rotatable andaxially shiftable upon Each clutch disc 53 carries an axial I the disc,and extending inwardly from the disc.

To permit this axial shifting, a sleeve Each pin 59 projects through acircumferential slot 66, formed in the adjacent sprocket wheel 56. Theinner end of each pin 59 is disposed inwardly of the associated sprocketwheel 56, and adjacent to hub 51; Connected to the inner end of .eachpin 59 is a strong retractile coil spring 6|,

the opposite end of which is attached to a pin or lug 62 secured to theinner face of the adjacent sprocket wheel 56. Each pin 59 is slidable inthe associated slot 66. Disposed inwardly of hubs 51 and mounted uponthe shaft 49 are axially shiftable sleeves 63 and 64, spaced apartslightly at their inner ends, as shown. The sleeve 63 is freelyrotatable and axially shiftable upon the shaft 49, while sleeve 64 isaxially shiftable only, and held against rotation with shaft V49. Tohold the sleeve 64 against rotation, a crank or arm 65 is rigidlyconnected to sleeve 64, by welding or the like, and extends laterallyrearwardly of 'the sleeve toward a rear upright frame member 66, mountedupon bed 2|, Figures 12 and 13. The arm 65 has a rear transverseextension 61 provided with a longitudinal slot 68, receiving spacers orrollers 69, carried by studs 16, rigidly secured to frame member 66. Thespacers or rollers 69 are slidable in slot 68, and permit the axialshifting of sleeve 64. At its inner end, sleeve 64 is provided with apair of diametrically oppositely arranged notches, forming oppositelyinclined cam faces 1|, Figures 8. The adjacent rear end '64 withdiametrically oppositely arranged inclined teeth or cams 14 to engagethe cam Each of the sets of clutches 52 is identical with the set shownand describedin connection with Figure 5, and the crank 13 of each set52 normally extends downwardly below shaft 49, Figures 3 and5.

Arranged near the inner longitudinal edge of chock 25, and spacedbeneath the same, and extending longitudinally of bed 2| forsubstantially its entire length, and journaled in fixed bearings securedto the bed, is a horizontal longitudinal lower shaft 15. This shaft 15has rigidly mounted upon it sprocket wheels 16, which are lined with thecorresponding sprocket wheels 56 on shaft 49. The sprocket Wheels 1'6are not shiftable axially upon the shaft 15. Conveyor chains 11operatively connect companion sprocket wheels 56 and 16, as shown. Theseconveyor chains 11 extend transversely of bed 2| and are inclinedupwardly toward the rear side 11'. of the bed. The conveyor chains eachcarry ,a pair of log engaging dogs 18, securely mounted upon the outersides :of the chains and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom. Thechains 11 pass close tothe inner edge of chock, 25,andlongitudinallyspaced also t me notches 19 are provided thechockwto-perm it the 'passage ofthezdogs'mi The dogs TBofeach veyor'chains 11 are employed. The shafts-l 21, 49

and 15 he substantially in an inclined plane parallel to the conveyorchains, Figure 3, and the shaft 2? is arranged between the upperand-lower:

runszof chains H; The diameters of saws 30,3[ and 32 are such that thesaws project above the conveyor chainssufficiently to completely severlog L: passing through the saws. We provide means to actuate the sets ofclutches 52. Such,

means comprises a pair of..levers 80. extending transversely of themachine and arranged. substantially midway between. the center saw 3%and theouter saws, Figure 1. Each lever 89- comprises al -straightelongated portion Si, normally arl ranged in an inclinedposition,parallel to the upper'runs of chains H and the straight portions Bl arearranged so that they extend acrossisubstantially the full diameters ofthe saws. At their forward ends the straight lever portions 8 I. carryupwardly curved ends 8?. for engagement by the logi-Ll At their upperends, and beginninginear the shaft is, the portions 8! curve upwardlyand rearward'ly, forming upstanding curvedloops 8-3,

the rear lower ends of which are pivotally connected, as at 83 tobrackets 34 rigidly mounted upon an upright frame member 85 secured tothe The upper discharge ends of conveyor chains ll are arrangedbeneaththe loops 33. The levers 80 further include depending straightextensions 86, disposed rearwardly of frame member 85, as shown. Attheir lower ends extensicns 85 are pivotally connected at i3! tosubstantially horizontal longitudinally shiftable links 88,, ex-

of cranks H, the links are pivotally connected with the upper ends ofcranks Slhprovided. near their upper ends with slots $2 to permit links.88 to move-slightly vertically. At their lower ends cranks 9! arerigidly secured to theinner ends of horizontal rock shafts 93 whichextend longitudinally of bed 2!, and parallel to shaft 49. The rockshafts 93 are journaled in fixed bearings 94:, rigidly secured to theupstanding frame member 66-. At their outer ends, the rock shafts 93have rigidly secured to them upstanding cranks or levers 96, parallel tocranks 9| and extending upwardly for the same distances as cranks 91. Attheir top ends, cranks 96 are pivotally connected to short horizontallinks 9?, extending rearwardly to the two outer cranks 13. At their:-forward ends,il-inks 91 are pivotally connected at 98170 the lower endsof the two outer cranks 1-3, Figure 11.

Adjacent to the discharge ends of conveyor chains 11 and extendinglongitudinally of the bed 2| for substantially its entire length isa-horizontal longitudinal trough 99. This trough 99 receives the cutlogsections as they are discharged from the upper ends of theconveyor-chains; The trough 99 is supported by the upstanding-"framemembers: and .85; Arranged inthe bottom of troughmiis san'endlessiconveyor 'chain 1 00, provided; with :spaced transverse 'lugs'or plates :m-i rigidly secured thereto; and adapte'drto engagelthe cutlog sections andim'ove them longitudinally. in the troughi The conveyorchain I00" engages sprocket wheel's I102 and lit-3 near theuend'so fthebed 213, andamountcd upon. shafts l ll' l and i 05, arranged beneath thetrough and transversely ef thesame, andjournaledvi-n fixed bearings; At-its end near shaft m5: trough 99 has a longitudinal upwardly inclinedtrough extension I06; extending-outwardly-beyond the end of the bed 2 l.An

incl-inedendless conveyor chain HT! is disposed ih thebottom of troughextension I06, and provided with spaced transverselugs' 08 to engage thecut log section's; Conveyor chain I01 engagesspro'cket wheels 1 09 andH6, mounted upon shafts l El and H2, as shown. The inner end efconveyorchain I0! is arrangedcloseto the adjacent end of chain me, so as'to"provide a substantially continuous conveyor for the cutlo'gsections. Theshafts H l-and H2 are arranged transversely of the trough extension M16and are journaled in fixed bearings. A separate motor *3, Figure 2, ismounted upon bed 21 near its end adjac'entto trough section I06, and thearmature'shaft' of this motor carries a pulley IM; opera-tively" con"-nected witlra belt H5, in turn operatively con-- nected with a pulley IHi mounted upon shaft H l. A belt HT operativel-yconnects pulleylit-with a pulley H8 mounted upon the-shaft Ill-5. It is thus seenthatthe" motor H3-will drive thecorrveyor chains ms and H16 inthesame-direction simultaneously.

Arranged near the; end of bed 2!, remote from motor 26, is a pivotedcut-off saw H9, compris ing' a vertically swingabl'e'arm' I20, pivotallyconnected to the outer end of saw shaft 21. The arm I20 extendsforwardly and rearwardly of shaft 2T; and is provided at its rear endwith a counterweight I22. At its forward end general- 1y abovethe'track2-0, arm i 20 carries a vertically disposed'circular saw I23 mountedupon a short horizontal shaft [24"; journaled in fixed [bearings uponthe I20; Shaft I 24 carries a pulley 'l2'5'operatively engaged by a beltI2'6,1extending rearwardly and operatively engaging thepull-eymountedu-pon-the end of shaft 21. The cut-off saw' l23is thus driventhrough the belt I26 by the'sh-aft 21-. At its forward end and forwardlyofsaw l2'3the arm I 20 carries a handle l21, to be grasped for swingingthe cut-off saw downwardly. The arrangement is such that thecounterweight I22 normally maintainsthe arm-l2ll-ih theincl'ined'position shown in Figures 3 aud t.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

A log L tobecut into sections for making pulpwood or'the like is placedupon the carriages 22 and23 and moved along track 20 adjacent to thefront side of bed 21. The log should beapproxima'tely 21 feet long, andthe cut-off saw H9-is used to cut the log to this proper initial length.The-logL thus cut is rolled into the chock 25*, and into contact withthe lower ends of the moving' conveyor chains 11. As can be clearly seeninFigure- 14, thelog L, representing atypically crooked log, maybeoffset laterally as much as nine inches. This dimension isapproximately the m aximum extent of crookedness to be antici when in a-2 1 foot log of the type handled by the machine; With the logshapedgenerally as in Figure 14, thesets of clutches 52 functiontaperm-i-t the necessary lost motion'for the individual conveyor chainsTl, so that erro dog 13 of each chain willcont'a'ctthe log L before thelog starts to n-love *upwardly withthe chains 71-.

way, no oneor two chains .11 have 'todo all of .the work, and the loadof the logis distributed equally among all eight of .the chains.

.49 to rotate oppositely to the. direction of rotation of shaft 21, andat a greatly'reduced speed.

This is necessary, since the saws 30, 3| and 32 must revolve at a highspeed, while the conveyor chains 11 move relatively slowly. As viewed inFig. 3, shaft 49 rotates counterclockwise, driving the conveyor chainsupwardly, while shaft 21 rotates clockwise. When the first dog 18contacts 'log L near the left hand end of the same, Figure 14, that dogwill stop due to the lost motion of chain 11 carrying it, and the dogwill dwell long enough for the remaining dogs 18 carried by the otherconveyor chains 11 to move into engagement with the offset portion d ofthe log. As the first dog 18 contacts the log, a load will of course beplaced upon the chain 11 carrying that dog, the particular chain beingdriven by shaft 49, and through one clutch disc 53 and sprocket wheel 56of a single set of clutches 52. At the instant the first dog 18 engagesthe log L, the clutch actuating levers 8|] are in their loweredpositions, Figure 3, and cranks 13 are vertical. The clutch discs 53 areall separated from the faces 58 of sprocket wheels 56. The driving ofall of the chains 11, at this time, is done en-' tirely through springs6|. When the first dog 18 engages the log, the spring 6| connected withthe sprocket wheel 56 of the chain carrying the particular dog 18 willstretch and permit the sprocket wheel 56 to stop or dwell, while theclutch disc 53 continues to turn with shaft 49, and the pin 59 movesclockwise in the circumferential slot 60 of the sprocket wheel, Figure6. The slot '60 is of sufficient length to permit approximately nineinches lost motion which may be necessary for the dog l8 first engagingthe log. This same lost motion can occur at any of the conveyor chains11 independently, and the necessary amount of lost motion in theindividual chains 11 takes place until a dog 18 of each chain engagesthe log L. or course, if the log L were perfectly straight, all of thedogs 18 would engage the log simultaneously and the log would at oncestart to move upwardly with the chains .11. In any case, when all of thedogs l8v have engaged the log, the same will travel upwardly with theconveyor chains. At this time the springs 6| are still doing the drivingand together absorbing the load. The springs 6| are 'of courserelatively heavy springs.

As the upward movement of thelog L continues, the log will engage underthe upturned ends 82 and swing levers 86 upwardly toward their positionsin Figure 4. By the time the log advances into saws 36, 3| and 32, thelevers 80 have swung upwardly sufficiently to set all of the clutches.When this occurs the driving of the conveyor chains 11 is done throughthe clutches rather than through the springs 6|, and the drive istherefore positive, so that the log may be pushed past the saws andsevered. When the clutches are set for driving the log through the saws,there is no tendency for the conveyor chains to slip and for any lostmotion to occur in them. When the levers 80 are swung upward by the log,the depending extensions 86 swing counterclockwise, Figure 4, and thelinks 88 shift to the right. The cranks 13 of the two inner sets ofclutches 52 simultaneously swing counterclockwise, Figure 4 The cranks9| are simultaneously swung clockwise, turning rock'shafts 93 clockwise,Figure 4, and in turn swinging. the end cranks 96 in the same directionas the cranks 9|, and swinging the outer cranks 13 in the same directionas the inner cranks I3. All of the cranks 13 are thus swung in unisonwhen the levers move upwardly, and all of the clutches are setsimultaneously. When each crank l3 swings counterclockwise, Figure 4,the teeth or cams 14 of head 12 force the adjacent sleeve 64 to theright, Figure 5, and move the sprocket wheel 56 to the right and intoengagement with the adjacent clutch disc 53. The sleeve 64 is of coursesecured against rotation. Simultaneously,

clue to the opposin reaction of sleeve 64 to its axial movement, thesleeve will tend to cause crank 13 to shift to the left, Figure 5, andsleeve 63v will be shifted to the left, causing the left hand sprocketwheel 56 to engage the left hand clutch disc 53. There is sufficientplay in the lever 13 to permit it to cause this spreading action ofsleeves 63 and 64. This same action occurs simultaneously at each of thesets of clutches When the log passes completely through saws 36, 3| and32, and beyond its position shown in Figure 4, the levers 80 are loweredinto their norm-a1 positions and the clutches are released, whereuponthe springs 6| again become the driving members. The log L has now beencut into log sections which are discharged at the top ends of theconveyor chain 11, and into the trough 99 upon the conveyor chain I06,where they are engaged by the lugs |6| and moved to the right, Figure 2.The log sections pass onto the inclined conveyor chain I01, and arefinally discharged into a truck, or the like, at the outer end ofconveyor chain I01.

If there is any tendency for the cut log sections to become cooked orturned between the rapidly rotating saws 3|], 3| and 32, the springs 46and 48 and associated elements permit the saws to shift axially to allowthe necessary clearance. Damage to the saws is thus avoided.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims. 7

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a gang saw machine for cutting logs into sections, a support, asaw shaft mounted upon the support, spaced saws mounted upon the sawshaft, means to drive the saw shaft, endless conveyors to advance thelog into engagement with the saws, a conveyor drive shaft, a rotaryelement engaging each endless conveyor and slid-ably mounted upon theconveyor drive shaft, a disc mounted upon the conveyor drive shaft topositively rotate therewith and held against lon gitudinal movement withrelation to the conveyor drive shaft, a pin carried by the disc, aspringsecured to the pin and connected with the rotary element, a device tomove the rotary element axially of the conveyor drive shaft intoengagement with the disc to be positively driven by the disc, and meansto operate the device including an element arranged in the path oftravel of the log to be shifted thereby.

2. In a gang saw machine for cutting logs into sections, a support, asaw shaft mounted upon the support, spaced saws mounted upon the sawshaft to be driven thereby, .means.to drive the sawsshaft, endlessconveyors to advance the loginto engagement-with the saws, a conveyordrive shafta rotary element-engaging eadhgendless-conveyor and slidablymounted upon the conveyor-"drive shaft and having-a circumfen ntia llyex'tendingslot a disc-fixedly mounted upon the conveyor drive shaft andhaving a clutch face for engagement with the adjacent face of therot-aryelement, a pin secured to the disc and extending through the slot, aretractile coil spring secured to the pin and connected with the rotaryelement, a sleeve slidable upon the conveyor drive shaft to move therotary element axially of such drive shaft, and means to effect alongitudinal movement of the sleeve including an element arranged in thepath of travel of the log to be shifted thereby.

3. In a gang saw machine for cutting logs into sections, a support, a,saw shaft mounted upon the support, spaced saws mounted upon the sawshaft, means to drive the saw shaft, endless conveyors to advance thelog into engagement with the saws, a conveyor drive shaft, a pair ofrotary elements engaging the endless conveyors and slidably mounted uponthe conveyor drive shaft, discs fixedly mounted upon the conveyor driveshaft for frictional engagement with the rotary elements, yieldablemeans connecting each disc with its adjacent rotary element, sleevesslidable upon the conveyor drive shaft and engaging the rotary elementsin the pair to shift them axially toward the discs, a pivoted cam deviceto move the sleeves axially, and a lever pivotally mounted upon thesupport and connected with the pivoted cam device and having one endthereof arranged in the path of travel of the log.

4. In a gang saw machine for cutting logs into sections, a support, asaw shaft mounted upon the support, spaced saws mounted upon the sawshaft for rotation therewith, means to drive the saw shaft, endlessconveyors to advance the log into engagement with the saws, a conveyordrive shaft, a rotary element engaging each endless conveyor andslidably mounted upon the conveyor drive shaft and having acircumferentially extending slot, a disc fixedly mounted upon theconveyor drive shaft and having a clutch face engageable with the rotaryelement, a pin secured to the disc and extending through the slot, aretractible coil spring secured to the pin and connected with the rotaryelement, a sleeve slidable upon the conveyor drive shaft to shift therotary element along such drive shaft into clutching engagement withsaid disc, a pivoted cam device to move the sleeve longitudinally of theconveyor drive shaft upon turning movement of said cam device, and alever pivotally mounted upon the support and connected with the pivotedcam device to turn said cam device upon swinging of said lever, saidlever having a part thereof arranged in the path of travel of the log tocause said lever to swing.

5. In a gang saw machine for cutting logs into sections, a support, arotary saw shaft mounted upon the support, spaced saws mounted upon thesaw shaft for rotation therewith, means to drive the saw shaft, endlessconveyors to advance the log into engagement with the saws, a rotaryconveyor drive shaft, a rotary element engaging each endless conveyorand slidably mounted upon the conveyor drive shaft, a clutch elementfixedly mounted upon the conveyor drive shaft and engageable with therotary element when the ro- 10; tary element is shifted longitudinallyof the conveyor drive shaft in one direction, resilient means connectingthe rotary element and clutch element for effecting a yielding drivingconnection between the same, a sleeve slidably mounted upon the conveyordrive shaft for engagement with the rotary element to .shiftp-it toward1' the fixed aclutch element, "a. pivoted cam device Slengagiing the,sleeve .to shift. it. longitudinally ref-Ithe conveyor drive shaftuponturningof said cam device, and, a {lever pivotally mounted uponEthel,

support and connected with the pivoted cam device to turn said deviceupon swinging of said lever, said lever having a part arranged in thepath of travel of the log for engagement with the log while the log isbeing advanced toward the saws to cause said lever to swing.

6. In a gang saw machine for cutting logs into sections, a support, arotary saw shaft mounted upon the support, spaced saws mounted upon thesaw shaft for rotation therewith, means to drive the saw shaft, endlessconveyors to advance the log into engagement with the saws, a rotaryconveyor drive shaft, a rotary element engaging each conveyor andslidably connected with the conveyor drive shaft, a clutch elementfixedly secured to the conveyor drive shaft for rotation therewith andengageable with the rotary element when such element is shiftedlongitudinally of the conveyor drive shaft in one direction, a springconnecting each rotary element and clutch element for effecting ayielding driving connection between the conveyor drive shaft and rotaryelements, cam means acting upon the rotary elements for shifting themtoward the clutch elements for clutching engagement, and a pivoted leverconnected with the cam means to produce such shifting when the free endof the lever is raised, such free end arranged in the path of travel ofthe log and projecting above the endless conveyors so that said free endof the lever is elevated by engagement with the log.

7. In a gang saw machine for cutting logs into sections, a support, arotary saw shaft mounted upon the support, spaced saws mounted upon thesaw shaft for rotation therewith, means to drive the saw shaft, endlessconveyors to advance the log into engagement with the saws, a rotaryconveyor drive shaft, a rotary element engaging each conveyor and,slidably connected with the conveyor drive shaft, a clutch elementfixedly secured to the conveyor drive shaft for rotation therewith andengageable with the rotary element when such element is shiftedlongitudinally of the conveyor drive shaft in one direction, a springconnecting each rotary element and clutch element for effecting ayielding driving connection between the conveyor drive shaft and rotaryelements, a sleeve slidably mounted upon the conveyor drive shaft forengagement with the rotary element to shift such element toward theclutch element, a pivoted cam device engaging the sleeve to shift itlongitudinally of the conveyor drive shaft, and a pivoted leverconnected with the pivoted cam device and having a part projecting abovethe endless conveyors and in the path of travel of the log so that thelog will elevate the lever and turn the pivoted cam device as theendless conveyors advance the log toward the saws.

ERNEST C. AVINGER- THEODORE T. MURPHY.

(References on following page) Name Date Barrett May 4, 1920 WilletteMay 15, 1923 Snyder May 24, 1927 Mead et a1. Oct. 26, 1943 Woodward Feb.7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France July 21, 1905 Germany Mar.22, 1941

